Is Europe binning meat and dairy? Greece opens its first fully vegan hotel

A boutique hotel on the island of Mykonos has become the first and only in Greece to market itself as fully vegan. From the spa to the Mediterranean menu, everything at the hotel is plant-based.

Located in Ano Mera, Mykonos, Koukoumi hotel plans to open its doors this summer. The hotel has been designed to fit within traditional Myconian architecture and has 14 suites in total. The founders’ philosophy prioritises sustainability on every front, with a vegan menu, eco-friendly mattresses, solar powered water heaters and even a magnesium pool. Spa therapists also provide vegan beauty treatments and daily group exercise classes take place in the fitness centre to encourage a healthy lifestyle.

Koukoumi will offer two bespoke packages, the ‘Detox package’ and the ‘Energy Boost’ package which are both full-board stays spread over five days.

Georgia Kontiza, founder of Koukoumi, tells euronews Living of her belief that we should “enjoy life without harming animals, the environment, or ourselves.” It’s an alternative and peaceful place she says, for visitors from all around the world to come and seek refuge.

What’s on the all-vegan menu?

Koukoumi’s vegan cuisine is Greek-inspired and is made up of exclusively vegan and raw food. For breakfast, the bread and cakes are baked in house and daily meals include soups, salads, fresh pasta, vegan burgers, pizzas and poke bowls.

A study undertaken at Harvard University in the US found that a vegan diet can benefit both health and the environment. By avoiding dairy, meat and fish, and instead focusing your diet around vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and whole grains, we may live longer as a result and have a lower risk of developing heart disease or type 2 diabetes.

But aside from health, veganism is also good for the planet, says Professor Walter Willett at Harvard. “Cattle grazing generates massive amounts of methane and carbon dioxide, both of which are potent greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change,” he explains.

Which country has the most vegans in Europe?

There were 11,655 vegan food and drink businesses launched in Europe in 2019, an increase of 93 per cent from 2016, according to The Vegan Society. Germany is now among global leaders when it comes to vegan product development. Berlin has been called “the most vegan-friendly city in the world” boasting around 600 veggie restaurants around the capital.

In Italy, around half of consumers say they are lowering their red meat and over in the UK, Bristol is vying for the top spot as the new “world-wide vegan capital.”

“Veganism is one of the fastest growing lifestyle movements in the world, so it’s no surprise that fully vegan hotels are appearing to accommodate the ever increasing number of vegans worldwide,” Matt Turner, spokesperson for the Vegan Society told euronews Living.

Many pubs, restaurants and hotels in the UK for example have embraced vegan dishes over the last few years, he goes on, but there are still some independent businesses that haven’t caught up with the growing demand. As a result, they are “missing out on sales.”

It just shows “how far veganism has come”, he concludes, it’s now recognised as a “mainstream lifestyle choice.”